Tips on getting someone else to start SL 5x5?

[eLvarouza]

Hi,

My roommate hinted to me that he'd like to come to the gym with me this semester, and I'm basically wondering for tips on how to best get him hooked on strength training. He's never been to a gym and shit like that.

I don't just want to suffocate him; i.e. I don't want to unload everything on him at once, like "you must do this, you must do that, you have to eat this much exactly, you have to budget your time this way, etc" because I'm sure that would drive him crazy and demotivate him. When I first starting going to the gym and watching my diet it was a gradual process; I slowly starting refining my diet and I slowly starting learning about training and became more involved.

For example, one of the first things I did was replace pop with milk at every meal, although my entree might still be bad. I didn't just switch from eating pizza/fried chicken/sugary drinks/etc. to eating whole foods/lean meats/oats/etc. immediately.

Also, when I started going to the gym I first started out by doing a circuit or two on the machines; I didn't jump into a good training program immediately.

I want to have people come to the gym with me, but I don't want to overwhelm them. What should I do? I remember hearing some advice awhile ago of just "become a walking advertise for stronglifts.com", and I'm thinking that might be the way to go. I'll just babble about Stronglifts and let him read the site and do all that shit like I did (I'll definitely keep him away from bodybuilding.com though...freakin' people told me to do zercher squats and crazy ass shit to fix my poor back squat technique, and 90% of the people on there think there's an "inner chest" muscle, a "lower abs" muscle, and a "lower lats" muscle), and let him come to his own conclusions and come along at his own pace.

Any tips will be appreciated!

[Love_Deadlifts]

Best thing to do is introduce him to the 5x5 program. Let him come to the gym with you and workout. Make sure he uses good form and sticks to the program. If it catches and he wants to become serious about nutrition and all that then point him in the right direction.

[LiftingNerd]

When I first starting going to the gym and watching my diet it was a gradual process

I imagine it's going to be the same for him. You don't have to get him hooked on starting strength, just get him hooked on going to the gym. Give him info on any lifts he wants to do. I know some of you may disagree but as long as he's getting to the gym, exercising, and enjoying it doing the essential doesn't matter as much at first. If he falls into line and loves strength training that's even better.

[eLvarouza]

Well there's also another catch in that he'll probably be really inflexible and shit like I was, and it'll be a really hard road. I think it'll be easier for him than it was (and still is) for me because he'll have the benefit of someone knowledgeable (well, at least I think so; I pretty much just repeat what I hear from knowledgeable people) coaching him on proper form and shit.

[baughmjk]

I would try and get him reading Stronglifts before he goes with you. Maybe just tell him that you follow the program from this site, so far it's worked really well and he should check it out sometime. That should get him learning and he can read at his own pace.

[dhw]

I would try and get him reading Stronglifts before he goes with you. Maybe just tell him that you follow the program from this site, so far it's worked really well and he should check it out sometime. That should get him learning and he can read at his own pace.

Yes, I think that first introducing him to Stronglifts is the best advice. Suggest that he look the program over and than ask him what the thinks. Point out that it is a basic beginning "Core" strength program which starts with lower weights but with which you can see amazing results within 8-10 weeks.

If people get hooked, than that is great. If not, than they just have other priorities in their life.

[bigwhat62]

i also concur with introducing him to the site. i have done so with a handful of friends and weeks later i ask them how the gym is going and they great. they usually switch up their old routines for the 5X5 and enjoy it.

[hazmat]

Be sure to post after your friend starts and let us know how it's going. I'm interested to see how it works out as a friend of mine wants to workout with me. However, I get the feeling he thinks going to the gym is just putting on the clothes and walking around talking to people.